Portland native Ruben J. Menashe, z”l, who enriched the Portland community through his community involvement, philanthropy and as founder of the Ruben J. Menashe, Inc. real estate development company, died peacefully at home on Nov 7, 2022. He was 89. Ruben is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Menashe; brother, Albert L. (Bette Lynn) Menashe; son, Jack R. (Madeleine) Menashe; granddaughter, Ella Menashe; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ruben Jack Menashe was born in Portland at the old St. Vincent’s Hospital on Dec. 2, 1932, to Fortuna and Jack R. Menashe.

Ruben attended Hosford grade school in the Ladd’s Addition before his family moved to the Alameda area, where he attended Beaumont grade school and Grant High School. Growing up, Ruben worked in his father’s restaurant during summer vacation. While in high school, he was tapped to model the Willy Wolf Sweater by Kandel.

At Grant, Ruben was active in student government and served as student body president. Ruben earned three varsity letters in football at Grant and played on both of Ted Ogdahl’s undefeated State Championship teams (1949 & 1950) as both offensive and defensive tackle. The 1949 and 1950 Grant Generals were considered by many as the best PIL football teams ever. Ruben was honored to be voted All-City in 1949, All-City and All-State in 1950 and was named the outstanding lineman in the 1951 Shine All-Star Game. While he excelled at sports and student government, one of his favorite experiences was singing in Jean Vancil’s school choir.

Upon graduating from Grant in 1951 Ruben was recruited by several large west coast universities for football, but decided to follow coach Ogdahl to Willamette University. At Willamette, Ruben was again elected student body president, and was voted “Little All-American” in football. Ruben was a member of Cardinal Key, an honorary society recognizing excellence of leadership, scholarship and character. He also was a member of the Economics Honor Society and the Arnold Air Society. Ruben graduated from Willamette in 1955 with a B.A. degree in economics and an ROTC commission in the US Air Force.

In the Air Force, despite his desire to become a pilot, Ruben became a Photo Radar Intelligence Officer, stationed in Japan for three years. These years were described by Ruben as the “freest time of my life.”

After his honorable discharge, Ruben joined his best friend, John Kent, in Gilroy, Calif., where they started a construction and building business. Ruben and John learned the business from the ground up. In 1962, after two and a half very successful years in California, Ruben was ready to return to Portland, his family and the rain. Once home, he founded his own real estate development and construction business, Ruben J. Menashe, Inc. It quickly gained a reputation for exceptional quality and customer service, and has been continuously active in single-family, multi-family, commercial, land and investment property development for 60 years.

Shortly after his return to Portland, Ruben was called by high school and college friend, Gino Pieretti, who set Ruben up on a blind date with Elizabeth (Liz) McBride. Obviously, the couple clicked; they were married for more than 58 years.

In 1965 the couple was blessed by the birth of their son, Jack. When Jack married Madeleine Krys in 1998, they gained a beautiful daughter. And, in 2000, they were excited to welcome a granddaughter, Ella Krys Menashe. She was the light of Ruben’s life.

Ruben was very active in the Portland community, donating generously both his resources and time to numerous organizations and serving on the boards of the St. Mary’s Home for Boys, the Portland Metropolitan Home Builders Association, the Rask Family Memorial Fund and Congregation Beth Israel. Ruben was particularly devoted to the betterment of the Robison Home in Southwest Portland. While on the Robison Board, he chaired the Building Committee for four years. He also chaired the Long-Range Planning Committee, which led to the concept of the need for an assisted living facility. Ruben Co-Chaired the building of this project, The Rose Schnitzer Manor, with Jordan Schnitzer and Milt Carl.

In 2009, Ruben was inducted into the Grant High School Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2016 he was added to the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) Hall of Fame, and in 2014 the Oregon Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Ruben is a recipient, with his wife Elizabeth, of the Rabbi Joshua Stampfer Community Enrichment Award.

He will be remembered by many for his love of family, his generosity, friendly nature, his integrity, his honesty, his sense of humor and especially his humility.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at 11 am at Congregation Beth Israel, 1931 NW Flanders St., Portland.

Donations in Ruben’s memory made be made to the charity of your choice.

Memories may be added to his virtual wall at www.WeRemember.com.